Thermoplastic olefin copolymers and blends prepared therefrom

Abstract

Novel thermoplastic olefin copolymers and blends comprising the same are prepared from precursor functionalized olefin polymers and functionalized addition polymers. Additionally, the thermoplastic olefin copolymers comprise ester linkages and sulfide linkages.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A blend comprising a thermoplastic olefin copolymer and a polymer suitable for generating the blend wherein the copolymer is prepared by reacting an orthoester or orthocarbonate functionalized olefin polymer with an additional polymer wherein: (a) the orthoester or orthocarbonate functionalized olefin polymer comprises structural units of the formula ##STR4##  wherein each R 1  is independently a hydrogen, C 1  -C 5  hydrocarbon, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic radical or a halogen and R 2  is --CH 2  -- or a substituted or unsubstituted divalent aromatic radical and m is any integer greater than or equal to 1 and X has the formulae ##STR5##  Y is selected from the group consisting of moieties of cyclic orthocarbonates, and cyclic orthoesters; and   (b) the additional polymer has acid, acid anhydride or thiol functionality.   
     
     
       2. A blend in accordance with claim 1 wherein said polymer suitable for generating the blend is a polyphenylene ether, polyphenylene sulfide, polystyrene or acrylic. 
     
     
       3. A blend in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cyclic orthocarbonate and cyclic orthoester moieties have the formula ##STR6## wherein R 3  is a C 1  -C 10  primary or secondary alkyl or aralkyl or a C 6  -C 10  aromatic radical or an alkene radical forming a second 4 to 8 membered ring with C* to produce a bicyclo compound and R 4  is a C 1  -C 10  primary or secondary alkyl or aralkyl or a C 6  -C 10  aromatic radical and R 3  and R 4  together with atoms connecting them can form a 4 to 8 membered ring to produce a spirobicyclo compound and R 5  is a hydrogen, alkyl or aryl and l is 0 or 1 and n is an integer from 0 to 2 and p is 0 or 1 and t is 0 when R 3  and C* form a bicyclo compound and is otherwise 1. 
     
     
       4. A blend in accordance with claim 1 wherein said additional polymer is a functionalized polyphenylene ether, polyphenylene sulfide, polystyrene or acrylic. 
     
     
       5. A blend in accordance with claim 1 wherein said blend is prepared in the melt or solution. 
     
     
       6. A blend in accordance with claim 1 wherein said thermoplastic olefin copolymer is an EPDM-SAN copolymer.